Improvement in friction-clutches



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

WM. H. BROWN, OF WORCESTER, MSSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FRICTION-CLUTCHES.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,134, dated November23, 1865.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BROWN, of the city and county ofWorcester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulFrictionOlutch; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full andexact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, Inaking part of this specification, in which- Figure l is aside elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical axial section. Fig. 3is an end elevation of one of the pulleys with its inner expanding ring.Fig. 4 is an end elevation of one of the pulleys with its innersectional expanding ring.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention consists in a Inethod of constructing and operatin g twoclutch-pulleys, arranged in the manner usual in screw-engines, with asingle shipper to operate each clutch alternately.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsmay be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed todescribe its construction and operation.

A is a beam, and B B two hangers or pedestals depending from A andsupporting' the shaft 0,011 which are two loose pulleys, I) D', and twohubs, H H, with circular disks, which are fast to the shaft, so as torevolve with it. A sleeve or collar, E, is capable of slippinglongitudinally on the shaft as it is pushed by the shippinglcver F,which is pinned to a rin 0, G, which rotates in au annular groove on thesleeve E as the latter rotates, as is) presently to be described.

At each end of the sleeve E are links I I, which connect to the pivotalpoint of stirrupshaped toggles J J, which terminate in blocks K K, Fig.4, or K Q, Fig. 3, whose purpose is to spread open the ring N, Fig. 3,or segments N N, Fig. 4, and expand it or them against the inner side ofthe rim of the loose pulley, so as to cause the latter to rotate withthe shaft.

In Fig. 3 the expanding ring is shown as consisting ofone piece, and011e end, Q, ofthe toggle bears upon the boss in the center of thecircular expansible piece, while the wedge-block K of the other end ofthe toggle, whose screwshank is adjustable in the nuts M, is forcedbetween the open ends ofthe rings, so as to cause it, when the sleeve Eis pressed toward that pulley, to expand against the latter and make itrevolve with the shaft.

In Fig. 4 the expanding ring is divided into segments, which are securedby springs and screws, or in any other suitable manner, to the rim O, sothat when the expanding mechanism is withdrawing the segments will bedrawn from contact with the pulley.

In Fig. 4 one ofthe terminations ofthe toggles is a wedge-block, K,similar to that iu Fig. 3, already described, and is adjustable by meansof the screw L and nut M, while the other block is made divided and isadjusted by Ineans of packing between the jaws of the block, so as toincrease its width, and consequently its capability of expanding thesegments.

When in their contracted state the rings, sectional or otherwise, restupon the rims O, which are secured to the faceplate H', whichconstitutes a flange on the hub H and revolves with it.

By the cross connection between the two systems of toggles the sleeve iscaused to rotate without being secured on the shaft by feather orotherwise, and the toggles having a certain independence of motion, asbeing pivoted on the ends ot' the links I, will bring an equal pressureupon each side and expand the ring evenly, so as to cause it to pressmore perfectly and continuously against the whole inner periphery in theriIn of the` pulley.

rShe plates S form extended guides for the blocks K or Q when withdrawnfrom contact with the expansible ring or segments.

Whether the elastic ring N be intact or divided, it has sufficientelasticity, or else is provided with springs, so that it will contractonto the rim O when it is freed by the withdrawa of the expanding blocksK Q.

The arrangement of the toggles prevents any inequality which would tendto crowd the pulley to one side ofthe shaft.

I do not intend by the above description to conne myself to theduplicate arrangement, as a single friction-clutch may be used forcornmunicatingmotion from one portion ot' machinery to another.

Having thus fully, clearly, and exactly described thc nature,construction, and operation of my invention, the following is what Iclaim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. The combination of the detached elastic segments with theWedge-block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Making the wedges which force the segments against the rim ofthepulley the medium of coupling it with the core.

3. The combination ofthe sleeve E, the links, and toggle-joints, withtheir terminal wedges,

and the expanding segments or rings, substantielly as described. v

4. The combination ofthe links l I with the toggles J J, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

WM. H. BROWN. Witnesses: ALVIN MAYER, WM. RICE.

